Private Papers of Major D G Joy AFC

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Illustrated ts account (175pp plus index) of his service in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC, later RAF), compiled by his son from his flying log books, operational records, his letters to his mother and his wife and his mother in law's diaries, covering his request for a transfer to the RFC from his Canadian regiment (February 1915); his acceptance and period of training at the Curtis Flying School near Toronto (June - July 1915); his arrival in the United Kingdom (August 1915) and further training at No 3, No 9 and No 12 Reserve Aeroplane Squadrons (August - December 1915) before qualifying as a pilot in December 1915; a period of active service with No 27 Squadron RFC based initially at Dover (January - February 1916) and then, as part of 9th Wing, in France engaged on bombing operations during the Somme offensive (March - August 1916); further postings to No 49 Squadron at Dover on instructional duties, to No 43 Squadron at Ruislip (December 1916), No 48 Squadron at Rendcomb, Cirencester (January 1917) and again on active service in France and Belgium with No 32 Squadron engaged on reconnaissance duties during the Third Battle of Ypres (August - September 1917); a period with No 40 Training Squadron RFC at Croydon (September 1917); then as Commanding Officer of No. 93 Squadron, a fighter training unit based at Stockbridge, Hampshire (October 1917 - January 1918); with No 105 Squadron RAF at Strathroy Aerodrome, Omagh, Ireland (June 1918 - January 1919) until appointed as Commanding Officer of No 21 Squadron RAF in France and finally with No. 108 Squadron until his demobilisation.

Military conflict took place during every year of the 20th Century. There were only short periods of time that the world was free of war. The total number of deaths caused by war during the 20th Century has been estimated at 187 million and is probably higher.